Clamp connector



Feb. 10; 1942. s. P. BECKER CLAMP CONNECTOR Filed March 24, 1939 3 mm Mm m m P i Patented Feb. 10, 1942 .UNETED STATES- PATENT OFFICE CLAMPCONNECTOR.

Stephen P. Becker, Poughkeepsie, N Y,

Application March 24, 1939, SerialNo. 263,952

10 Claims. (Cl 24-263) My invention pertains to a connector of :theclamp-type for securing wires, such-as electrical conductors, together,and more specifically to that class of such connectors having a pair ofopposed jaws between which the wires are clamped. Such connectors areparticularly useful for making solderless splices in electricalcircuits, and for securing tap wires to a main or feeder conductor Wire.

In general my clamp connector includes two opposed parallel jaws, eachpreferably being of the V typefor best engagement with wires of variousdiameters. One jaw is formed integral with a slide extending toward theother: jaw, while such other jaw is integral with a body provided with aguide cavity complemental to and receiving the slide. Since joints forwhich these clamp connectors are used must be taped, my connector is ofminimum size and most appropriate shape to facilitate this operation,consistent with efficiency of its use and secure clamping of the numberand sizes of wires to be joined. The head of a clamping screw en-- gagesthe body of the connector and its shank is screwed into an axial bore inthe slide for drawing the jaws toward each other to clamp the wirestherebetween. To prevent appreciable turning of the slide in the bodyguide andyet to keep the slide of minimum size without sac'ri-l ficingthe requisite strength, the slide and body guide therefor are of.approximately elliptical cross section, the minor axis of such sectionbeing project beyond the slide. The length of the bolts shank is verynearly the same as the length of the body so that the bolt end willnever appreciably propect beyond the body end opposite that engaged bythe bolt head. So that the connector will always be a unit wherein theparts will not become disassembled and perhaps lost, the end of the boltshank is enlarged, as bybeing peened, upset, or the end of the threadsdeformed, whereby the shank end cannot enter the threaded portion of theguides bore, but may pass freely through the enlarged portion of suchbore. The length of such enlarged bore portion will determine themaximum distance- ;does not project appreciably beyond the body, all

corners and sharp'projections which would tend to cut the wrapping tapeare eliminated. The

just slightly greater in 1 length than the-'bolt diameter. The junctionof the slide sides at the ends of the major axis may be either a smallarc or an angle, both types of junction being included within thedescription of the slide as of approximately or substantially ellipticalcross section. The preferred type, illustrated in the drawing, is thelatter, which may be said 'to be of double segmental cross section, eachhalf defined by the major axis bein substantially a segment of a circle.

This approximately ellipticalslide has an axial bore extendingtherethrough which is threaded preferably from the jaw to the endtelescoped into the body guide cavity. The slide jaw end of this bore isenlarged to a diameter greater than the root diameter of the thread. Thebolt, having its head engaged with the body and being in tension duringthe clamping action, enters the threaded end of the slide bore first,and, with the parts in closed or nearly closed position, extends onthrough the enlarged and unthreaded portion of the guides bore to 55continuously curved contour of the complete con.- nector lends itself tosmooth and easy wrapping of the least possible bulk.

The general object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a clampconnector. of eflicient structure, yet one which is exceedingly compactand of smoothly rounded contour, with no projections, which can be tapewrapped with the least effort and time expenditure, and whichwill-require a minimum amount of tape both because. of its shape andbecause there are no corners or sharp projections which must bepaddedw-ith several layers of tape to prevent eventual puncture orseverance of the insulating sheath.

It is a further object to make such clamp connector a unitary structure,the parts of which cannot become disassembled with: the attendant dangerof loss of parts thereof, and the parts of which cannot be swivelled orotherwise dislocated from their useful relationship, but are restrictedto relative linear movement between clamped and u-nclamped positions.

Since it is intended that my clamp connector be furnished in severalsizes, each tobe used to clamp wires only within a certain range ofdiameters, it is an object of my invention to pro: portion and shape theparts of my clamp con:

.nector and to limit the movement of such parts so that a wire of largerdiameter than that intended to be accommodated cannot be inserted intothe connector, and the connector cannot be made up tightly on wires ofsmaller diameter or aggregate bulk than those with which a connector ofa particular size was intended to be used.

It is an object to provide a clamp connector as small as possiblecompatible with the strength and operation required, and to this end thenesting parts are made so that each is of a shape corresponding asclosely as possible to the part next within it consistent with therespective functions of such parts, and as little larger than the nextinner part as practicable for the strength necessary. Similarly, theparts which do not nest are designed to blend with the nesting parts ina manner to produce the most compact device as a whole capable ofaccomplishing the desired purpose in an efficient and convenient manner.

Still another object is to provide a clamp connector construction whichwill be easy to engage with the wires to be joined and in the use ofwhich such wires may be retained in proper engagement with the connectorwith facility while it is being clamped.

It is also an object to provide a construction having the aforementionedcharacteristics of compactness, yet one in which the wires to be clampedand the clamping screw will be prevented from being forced together, andthereby mutilating each other, as the wires are drawn into clampedposition.

More specific objects such as are inherent in various details ofconstruction may be ascertained from the following description of aparticular embodiment of my invention. The drawing illustrate arepresentative structure incorporating the principles and improvedfeatures of my clamp construction, the novel characteristics of whichare particularly set forth in the appended claims.

Fig.' 1 is an end elevation view of my clamp connector looking at theslide jaw end.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 2-2 of Fig, l with thejaws in wire clamping position.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation View of my connector showing the jaws infully extended position.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, except that thejaws are fully closed.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation View of my connector similar to Fig. 3,except that the jaws are fully closed and part of the body is shownbroken away to reveal the slide.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation view of the connector looking at the body jawend.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation view of the connector.

Clamp connectors of the same general type are disclosed in myPatents'1,932,009 for a Wire clamp; 1,932,010, for a Line tap connector,and 1,950,771 for a Wire clamp and connector. The present connectorincorporates improvements over the devices disclosed in these patents.

Wires W are inserted between and clamped together by two jaws,preferably of the V type. These jaws may be provided with transversecorrugations, if desired, to afford a better grip on the wires. One ofthese jaws I0 is formed integral with the body I of the connector, andis disposed transversely of such body alongside one end thereof. In theend of the body at which the jaw is located is formed a guide apertureextending lengthwise of the body. From the clamping side of the jaw It]to its opposite end the body becomes a generally semi-elliptical shellor trough [2 in continuation of the guide aperture, serving as a guidefor slide 2, its inner surface l2 being complemental in shape to theexterior surface of the slide. The longitudinal beaded trough edges ofbody I overhang the edges of the slide 2 at the ends of its major axisand fit into lateral indentations at the base of the slide jaw 20 formedintegral with slide 2 at one end thereof. As shown clearly in Fig. 2,slide 2 extends from slide jaw 20 toward body jaw l0.

Jaws l0 and 20 are drawn toward each other, slide 2 telescoping withinthe body I, by means such as a bolt 3. The head of this bolt engages theend of the body 1 adjacent to jaw ID. A washer, as shown, may beemployed between the bolt head and body to give smoother operation. Theshank of bolt 3 extends through the body guide aperture ll, throughwhich slide 2 may extend, and is threaded into bore 2| of the slide. Asshown in Figs. 2 and 4 the end of the bolt shank is very nearly flushwith the end of body I remote from jaw l0. As the bolt is turned, slide2 acts as a nut and moves along the bolt toward or away from the bolthead. The slide jaw 20 is thereby caused to approach or to recede fromjaw I0 correspondingly, but the bolt does not move lengthwise. Hencewhether the jaws are in the fully closed position of Figs. 4 and 5, thefully open position of Fig. 3, or the clamped position of Fig. 2 the endof the bolt shank can in no case project appreciably beyond the end ofbody I.

Slide jaw 20 is shown as incorporating a lip 22 which is disposed tooverlap jaw ID. This lip may be hooked over a conductor wire to supportthe connector while the wire to be joined thereto is being made readyfor engagement with the connector. The .workmans hands are thus leftfree for' other duties. If desired, this lip might alternatively beprovided on jaw ill to overlap jaw 20, but the arrangement shown ispreferred because the connector will most often be used in a verticalposition and the head of bolt 3 will ordinarily be most easilyaccessible when hanging downward. Moreover the center of gravity of theassembly is closer to jaw l0 than to jaw 20, and the connector willtherefore hang more nearly vertical and there will be less danger of itbecoming disengaged from the wire when it is hung by jaw 20 than if itwere hung by jaw [0. When all the wires to be clamped have been insertedbetween the jaws, turning of bolt 3 will quickly move lip 22 toward jaw10 sufficiently to trap the wires between the body and slide on oneside, the two jaws, and, on the side 0D- posite to that first mentioned,lip 22. Thereafter, unless there is danger of a wire pulling outendwise, no attention need be given to holding the wires in place whilethe clamping operation is being completed.

Lip 22 serves another useful purpose, namely, preventing the employmentof such a connector for clamping a wire of larger diameter than suchconnector was designed to accommodate. For one reason the width of theslot formed between the inner surface of lip 22 and the slide and bodyis a limiting feature. Also the degree of separation of jaws l0 and 20permitted may be set so that the space between the adjacent, telescopingends of lip 22 and jaw I0 will be only very slightly greater than thediameter of the largest wire with which the particular connector is.intended to be used. Separation of jaws l and maybe limited at thepointdesired despite the use of a bolt 3 having a shank not appreciablylonger than the body I by a unique construction. Instead of beingthreaded throughout its entire length, the axial bore :Zl of slide 2 hasa portion with a diameter larger than the root diameter of the threadedportion, which extends inward from the slide jaw endof the-slide. .Theend of the bolt shank is enlarged at so that itwill not pass into thethreaded portion of bore 2|, althoughit may move freely through theenlarged portion of this bore. Such enlargement of the end .of theboltshank will, of course, not be formed until after the parts oftheconnector have been assembled and the bolt has been screwed intoslide -2 a distance sufiicient so that its end projects beyond the slidejaw. It may'then be :enlarged either by a peening or other upsettingoperation, or merely by deforming the shank end or the threads thereonsufiiciently to prevent such end passing back into'the threaded part ofthe bore. It is to be understood that reference to the end of the boltshank as enlarged is intended to include any such deforming operationwhich will accomplish the intended purpose. The linear extent of theshank enlarging operation "may be coordinated with the length'of theenlarged portion of bore 2| so that extension movement of jaws Ill and20 willbe stopped by abutment of the bolt end 30 against the borethreads when the space between the adjacent edges of lip 22 and jaw IDhas increased to exactly the opening desired. In this way engagement ofthe connector with an appreciably oversize wire is prevented.

'It is also desirable to control'the minimum aggregate size of the wiresto be clamped'by 'a connector of given size. This is accomplished byproviding a shoulder or ledge l3 on the-body with which a shoulder orledge 23 on the slide will abut to limit positively approach movement ofjaws Ill and 20. It is to be particularly noted that these shoulders orledges should abut to halt such jaw movement before the telescoping endof slide 2 reaches the jaw end of body I where it would engage'the headof bolt 3 or its washer, as shown in Fig. 5. If movement of,useful'purpose, namely, it makes the connector a unit whichcannotbecome disassembled. Heretofore this result has been accomplishedby using a long screw as shown in my Patents 1,932,010 and 1,950,771referred to above. projecting part, however, makes complete taping ofthe'installed connector difiicult, requires more tape and the finaljoint is considerably more bulky. This is necessarily so because thesharp, projecting end of the upset bolt must be thickly wrapped withtape in order to prevent iteventually puncturing or splitting theinsulating wrapping. 'The other alternative of the prior art'wa's" thejaws were not thus stopped the bolt w0uld50 'Such sharp tozutilizaashort boltasuchas shown in my Patent 1,932,002,: .which previousreference was also made. In :such case :the disadvantages of thesharpue'dged, :protruding .bolt end were eliminated, :but .these werereplaced by the clamp heingreadily and .often' unintentionally separableinto the .elements .shownin Fig. :5 of that patent,

engagedtherebylis of ample length. The length.

of slide 2 .is also sufiicient to .prevent contact between-the threadsof-bolt 3 and any wire before the :clamping operation has progressedvery much. The .bolt threads and the wires are then mutually *protected.from mutilation.

"has :been :mentioned heretofore, after the joint has been made -.up itis'usually completely wrapped with insulating'tape. My connector enablessuch wrapping :to be done in the shortest possibleztime andibythe use ofthe least amount of tape,'yet :the completed joint is of symmetricalappearance.andzissmallerthan where connectors of types :known heretoforeare used. The resulting;-saving"in time and material possible by the useof my connector isa considerable economy onanyjobwhereia:large'number ofsplices or :taps must be made.

Itlw'ill be :noted'in Eig'l that the slide 2 is of approximatelyellipticalrshape.and'that the guide cavity 1 l' 10f .the body "I is ofsimilar, complemental :shape. .Asshown in this figure the di-:ameter'offthe bolt-shank lapproaches the length of the minor axis ofthe elliptical slide. In designing such-aconnector'thetfirstconsideration is that the bolt be of a size rto have sufficient strength"to withstand the :stress to which it is subjected. The minimumtransverse dimension of slide v2 must, of course, be slightly greaterthan :the .diameter of bolt 3. It is desired also that the {slide beother than "cylindrical so that the engagement of 'thesslide with thebody guide cavity wilkprevent relative rotation of the slide and body,and hence the two jaws l0 and '20 will be kept parallel. Thus making theslide 2 of approximately elliptical contour will give the operationdesired and, :moreover, will enable the body'shell to'tbe .given arounded exterior contour. The sides of Slide 2 have been illustrated asmeeting at an angle forming a cross section of doublesegmentalshape,butthey may meet in a small arc, as' in a true ellipse, while preservingpractically "the same shape of cross section. A section with'any'suchslight varia-' tion I intend to embrace within the designationapproximately or substantially elliptical. To complete a connectorwhichwill be of minimum size, of maximum strength and yet which willbeas free from corners and as symmetrical as possible, the jaws Ill and'20 and the lip 22 are shaped to blend with the rounded body to form-'an assembly having a generally elliptical cross section, the majoraxis of'which coincides with the minor axis of the elliptical slide.Where the shell portion of the body 1 stops, as shown in Fig. l, thesides of jaw continue in unbroken contour :and such sides merge ingentle curves with the outer face of lip 22. Jaw Ill, bridging oneend ofthe guide shells edges, similarly blends with contours of the body andlip 22 seen in *Fig.6,=and defines a-generally elliptical aperture 11,or "specifically an aperture :of double segmental shape, adapted toreceive l complementally the end of slide 2, as shown in Figs. 2, 5 and6. A strong joint betweenthis jaw and the guide shell is thereby formed,because the aperture is of minimum possible size compatible with theother features mentioned above. The result is that each part cooperatesand blends with each other part to produce the operation desired by aclamp of the most efficient shape.

As my invention I claim: I

1. A clamp connector, comprising a body jaw, a slide jaw, a slide ofsubstantially elliptical cross section integral with said slide jaw andextending toward said body jaw, a body integral with said body jaw,complemental to and snugly embracing said slide over the major portionof its length, and means cooperating between said slide and said bodyoperable to draw the slide jaw and body jaw toward each other and totelescope the slide into the body, thereby to clamp wires between saidjaws.

2. A clamp connector, comprising a body jaw, a slide jaw, a slide ofsubstantially elliptical cross section integral with said slide jaw andextending toward said body jaw, a body integral with said body jaw,complemental to and snugly embracing said slide over the major portionof its length, said slide jaw and said body cooperating to form astructure of generally elliptieal cross section with its major axialplane coincident with the minor axial plane of said slide, and meanscooperating between said slide and said body operable to draw the slidejaw and body jaw toward each other and to telescope the slide into thebody, thereby to clamp wires between said jaws.

3. A clamp connector, comprising a body jaw,

a slide jaw, a slide integral with said slide jaw and extending towardsaid body jaw, said slide having therethrough an axial bore threadedover a portion only of its length, that portion thereof extending inwardfrom the slide jaw end having a diameter greater than the root threadeddiameter, a body integral with said body jaw embracing said slide in aguide cavity complemental thereto, and a bolt with a shank of a lengthnot substantially greater than the length of said body, having its headengaged with said body and screwed into the slide bore for drawing theslide into said body cavity, thereby to clamp wires between said jaws,and the end of the bolts shank being receivable in said portion of theslide's bore having a greater diameter but being enlarged sufiicientlyto limit the maximum gap for admission of wire between said jaws byjamming against the internal end of said threaded portion of the slidesbore.

4. A clamp connector, comprising a body jaw, a slid jaw, a slideintegral with such slide jaw and extending toward said body jaw, saidslide having therethrough an axial bore threaded over a portion only ofits length, that portion thereof extending inward from the slide jaw endhaving a diameter greater than the root threaded di ameter, a bodyintegral with said body jaw embracing said slide in a guide cavitycomplemental thereto, said slide and guide cavity being ofnon-cylindrical shape, thereby to prevent rotation of said sliderelative to said body, and a bolt with a shank of a length notsubstantially greater than said body, having its head engaged with saidbody and screwed into the slide bore for drawing the slide into saidbody cavity, thereby to clamp wires between said jaws, and the end ofthe bolts shank being receivable in said portion of said slides borehaving a greater diameter but being enlarged sufiiciently to limit themaximum gap for admission of wire between said jaws by jamming againstthe internal end of said threaded portion of the slides bore.

5. A clamp connector, comprising a body jaw, a slide jaw, a slideintegral with said slide jaw and extending toward said body jaw, saidslide having therein an axial, threaded bore provided with an enlargedcounter bore at th jaw end thereof, a body integral with said body jaw,complemental to and embracing said slide, said slide and said body eachhaving thereon a shoulder, said shoulders adapted to be brought intoabutting engagement to limit telescoping movement of said slide and bodysufiiciently to prevent clamping of undersized wires, and a bolt havingits head engaged with said body and screwed into the slide bore fordrawing the slide jaw and body jaw toward each other, and said slideinto said body, thereby to clamp wires between said jaws, and the end ofthe bolts shank being enlarged sufficiently to limit the maximum gap foradmission of wire between said jaws by jamming against the internal endof said slides threaded bore.

6. A clamp connector, comprising a body jaw, a slide jaw, a slide ofsubstantially elliptical cross section integral with such slide jaw andextending toward said body jaw, said slide having therethrough an axialbore threaded over a portion only of its length, that portion thereofextending inward from the slide jaw end having a diameter greater thanthe root threaded diameter, and the diameter of said bore approachingthe length of the slides transverse minor axis, a body integral withsaid body jaw embracing said slide in a guide cavity complementalthereto, said slide jaw and said body cooperating to form a structure ofgenerally elliptical cross section with its major axial plane coincidentwith the minor axial plane of said slide, a lip integral with said slidejaw adapted to overlap closely said body jaw, and a bolt with a shank ofa length not substantially greater than the length of said body havingits head engaged with said body and screwed into the slide bore fordrawing the slide into said body cavity, thereby to clamp wires betweensaid jaws, and the end of the bolts ,shank being receivable in saidportion of the slides bore having a greater diameter but being enlargedsufiiciently to limit the maximum gap for admission of wire between saidbody jaw and said slide jaw lip by jamming against the internal end ofsaid threaded portion of the slides bore.

'7. A clamp connector, comprising a slide having an integral jawprojecting laterally from one end thereof and disposed perpendicular toits axis, a guide shell complementally embracing said slide, said guideshell having an integral jaw parallel to said slide jaw and projectinglaterally from the end of said guid shell remote from the slide'jaw andon the correspond- ,ing side of the guide shell, said two jaws beingformed and arranged for mutual telescoping disposition with such jaws inclamping position, said slide having a bore extending axiallytherethrough, including a threaded portion at the end of the slideremote from its jaw and an enlarged portion at the jaw end of the slideof greater diameter than such threaded portion, and a bolt of a lengthsubstantially equal to the length of said guide shell, screwed into the.threaded end of the slide bore, and the end of said bolt being enlargedfor reception in the portion of said bore of greater diameter, but tolimit the maximum gap for admission of wire between said jaws by jammingagainst the internal end of said threaded portion of the slides bore,the head of said bolt reacting from the jaw end of said guide shell fordrawing said slide into said guide shell for clamping wires between saidjaws.

8. A clamp connector, comprising a body jaw, a slide jaw, a' slideintegral with such slide jaw and extending toward said body jaw, itsside opposite such jaw being curved transversely, and said slide havingtherein an axial, threaded bore, a body integral with said body jawhaving its wall opposite such jaw of substantially constant thicknessand exteriorly curved transversely, and interiorly curved complementalto and snugly embracing said slide over the major portion of its length,and a bolt having its head engaged with said body and screwed into theslide bore for drawing th slide jaw and body jaw toward each other andsaid slide into said body, thereby to clamp wires between said jaws.

9. A clamp connector, comprising a slide of double segmental crosssection having an integral'jaw projecting laterally from one end thereofand disposed perpendicular to said slides minor axial plane, a guideshell complemental to said slide, snugly embracing the side of saidslide opposite its jaw over its entire width and for the major portionof its length, and having two longitudinal beaded edges overhanging andsnugly embracing th longitudinal edges of the side of said slide fromwhich its jaw projects, said guide shell having an integral jaw parallelto and facing said slide jaw, bridging one end of the shells beadededges to leave an aperture of double segmental cross sectionoomplemental to the end of said slide remote from itsjaw, for snuglyembracing such slide end when the slide jaw and guide shell are movedclose together, reinforcing fillets along each end of said guide shelljaw base being formed by the surface of such aperture next to such jaw,said slide being bored axially, and a bolt extending into said slidebore with its head reacting from the jaw end of said guide shell.

10. A clamp connector, comprising a slide of generally elliptical crosssection having an integral jaw projecting laterally from one end thereofand disposed perpendicular to said slides minor axial plane, a bodycomplemental to and snugly embracing said slide over the major portionof its length, and having an integral jaw,

projecting laterally from one end thereof, parallel to said slide jaw,and a bolt threaded in said slide, extending through said body andhaving its head seated against the jaw end of said body, and rotatableto draw the slide jaw and body jaw toward each other and to telescopethe slide into the body, thereby to clamp wires between said jaws.

STEPHEN P. BECKER.

